A 35-year-old client attended the clinic with a complaint of progressive weakness in her right arm. Over time, this had worsened to the point where her ability to move the arm became restricted. She reported that symptoms were consistently aggravated by overhead movements, such as lifting plates from a cupboard or performing shoulder press exercises at the gym.
Interestingly, she noted that lifting heavy objects was often manageable, yet at certain angles—even lifting something as light as a cup—her arm would feel weak and unresponsive. She also described occasional pins and needles, along with a slight tingling sensation in her fingers. The client had no history of shoulder or arm injury, though she did mention intermittent neck stiffness.
During the assessment, the client was unable to fully lift her arm overhead or out to the side independently. However, with assistance from the physiotherapist, full range of motion was achieved, suggesting that the restriction was not due to joint damage. Further testing ruled out structural issues within the shoulder.
Attention then shifted to the neck, as nerve involvement was suspected. Gentle palpation of certain areas in the neck reproduced a mild tingling sensation in the shoulder and arm, indicating nerve irritation. Treatment was therefore focused on the neck and surrounding musculature.
Following the initial session, the client experienced an immediate improvement, with increased range of movement and reduced tension. It was determined that her previous episodes of neck stiffness had progressed to place pressure on a nerve as it exited the neck and travelled down the arm.
After two additional physiotherapy sessions, combined with targeted corrective exercises, the client’s symptoms fully resolved.